Once you got above verified, the “unavailable database” error prompt should gone.

“unavailable database” happen in Local Protocol

The data transmission throughput for local protocol is few times better than TCP/IP connection. However, it is easy to encounter “unavailable database” error while using Local Protocol when Firebird is running as service. The connection string is simple:

c:\db\test1.fdb

c:\db\test2.fdb

The connection string is the database file path itself without any prefix.

Using Local Protocol with Firebird 1.5

Run as Application

Run as Service

Windows XP

Yes

Yes. Only work for first logon user

Windows Vista

Yes

No

Using Local Protocol with Firebird 2.X

Run as Application

Run as Service

Windows XP

Yes

Yes. Work for any number of logon users

Windows Vista

Yes

No

Please note that Local Protocol only works for:

x86 OS and x86 Firebird

x64 OS and x64 Firebird

Local Protocol doesn’t work for x64 OS and x86 Firebird.

The above tables explains why local protocol sometime work and sometime doesn’t work.